A Christmas Carol Opens In Bangkok This Week

There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.

So reads one of the most quoted lines from Charles Dickens’ classic tale, A Christmas Carol.

And igniting your Christmas spirit — as well as hopefully some laughter and good humour — is Bangkok Community Theatre (BCT), whose production of A Christmas Carol is opening at Creative Industries this week.

Adapted for the stage by Christopher Schario, BCT’s production stays remarkably true to Dickens’ original book, telling the story of stingy businessman Ebenezer Scrooge in Victorian London.

Relegating Christmas to nothing more than a humbug, Scrooge forgoes any holiday spirit by overworking and underpaying his loyal clerk, Bob Cratchit (despite the fact that his son, Tiny Tim, is close to death), while ignoring his nephew, Fred, of whose marriage he disapproves.

Scrooge and his nephew, Fred

But the path of Scrooge’s life is set to change forever when he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, on Christmas Eve.

Marley is followed by three of the most famous ghosts in literary history: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the most chilling of them all, the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come.

A Christmas Carol is about far more than simply enjoying the yuletide season — it speaks to the power of community, family and friends in helping even the stingiest among us rediscover the light, generosity and kindness that’s hidden somewhere in us, no matter how far deep down.

BCT’s production is directed by Michael Allman and produced by Don Harrelson, starring six actors and a musician. Staged at Creative Industries – M Theatre on the Petchaburi Road, the setting is minimalist while still having enough to grab and hold the audience’s attention.

Ethan Oulton takes on the role of Scrooge, while Naomi Bactol, Hannah Davis, Peter Dee, Mark Peterson and Rebecca Shatford play the remaining roles and voice the narration.

Schario’s adaption is almost entirely taken from Dickens’ story, staying true to the original message and spirit. It’s sure to awaken the Christmas spirit in all of us — no matter how far Bangkok feels from Victorian London!